Q&A: Widow's Web by Jennifer Estep

What sets your Elemental Assassin series apart from other urban fantasy series in this genre?

Jennifer: The Elemental Assassin urban fantasy series focuses on Gin Blanco, an assassin codenamed the Spider who can control the elements of Ice and Stone. When she’s not busy killing people and righting wrongs, Gin runs a barbecue restaurant called the Pork Pit in the fictional Southern metropolis of Ashland. The city is also home to giants, dwarves, vampires, and elementals – Air, Fire, Ice, and Stone.

Since Gin is an assassin, I would say that I’m probably writing a little more of an anti-hero than maybe some of the other urban fantasy series out there. Also, my series definitely has a bit of a Southern flavor to it.

Can you tell us about your latest release, Widow’s Web?Jennifer: Widow’s Web is the seventh book in my Elemental Assassin series. In this one, Gin has to deal with some issues regarding her lover Owen Grayson, especially when Owen’s ex, Salina, comes to town. Salina has her own ideas about how things should be run in Ashland, and she and Gin clash over that, among other things.

What 3 words would you use to describe Gin Blanco? Jennifer: Smart. Strong. Sassy.

Can you tell us something about Gin Blanco that we haven’t read in one of your books? (a tick, hidden tattoo, fav flavor)
Jennifer: Well, I can say that Gin doesn’t have any tattoos.

What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing Widow’s Web?Jennifer: Well, it’s a challenge to write any book, but in Widow’s Web, probably the biggest challenge for me was just capturing all of Gin’s emotions. She always knew that Owen had a past and previous relationships, but it’s one thing knowing that and it’s another when Salina comes to town, and Gin learns about the connection that Owen and Salina had. So Gin’s reaction and how she deals with all of that was probably the biggest challenge for me in writing the book.

If Finnegan would convince Gin and Bria to go on a family’s day-out, where would they go? Jennifer: Hmm. Good question. Finn would probably want to go to a museum so he could admire all of the beautiful things on display – and try to figure out how all the paintings and other art could go home with him. LOL.

On your website you mentioned that there are coming three more books after Widow’s Web. Have you thought about your writing life after the Elemental Assassin series?
Jennifer: I have thought about that. I do have some ideas for a new urban fantasy series that I hope to explore sometime in the future. But right now, I’m having a lot of fun writing my Elemental Assassin series, and I hope to be writing about Gin for a long time to come. We’ll see what happens. Happy reading, everyone!

I saw all you elemental icons on your website so I made my own elemental icon “wind” what do you think? New idea for a villain? (made it very small, so it doesn’t show how ugly it is 🙂 )

Jennifer: I think your rune looks cool. 😉

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Widow’s Web (Elemental Assassin #7)

Publised: Simon & Schuster, August 21, 2012

ISBN: 978-1451651775

The seventh book in the hugely popular Elemental Assassin series by New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Jennifer Estep—Gin Blanco is back and ready for action.

My name is Gin, and I kill people. It’s something I’ve been doing for years as the assassin called Spider, but now, it’s turned into a necessity on my part just to survive all the lowlifes in Ashland who are gunning for me. The underworld is still in turmoil, and I seem to be on everyone’s hit list these days.

To add to Gin’s problems, her lover Owen’s ex is in town. Salina is back in Ashland to reclaim an old family legacy—and she thinks that Owen is hers for the taking. Also in the mix is Phillip Kincaid, a casino owner and all-around shady character who has a mysterious connection to both Owen and Salina. Salina might seem like a sweet Southern belle, but there’s more to her than meets the eye.

Her water elemental magic makes her a dangerous enemy—and someone who can go toe-to-toe with Gin’s Ice and Stone power. But Gin is determined to get to the bottom of Salina’s deadly scheme, even though it just might cost her everything…including Owen.

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SMALL FUN FACTS

Spider: A small circle with eight thin lines radiating out of it. Spider runes are the symbol for patience. Gin Blanco had the rune burned into her palms by the mysterious Fire elemental who murdered her family when she was thirteen.

Snowflake: The symbol for icy calm and the personal rune of the Snow family. Gin’s mother, Eira, wore a snowflake rune on a pendant around her neck – until she was murdered.